j sound words speech therapy

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240+ J Words, Phrases, Sentences, and Reading Passages

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intelligent

Initial J by Syllables

gingerbread

gingerbread man

jack in the box

junior high school

Medial J by Syllables

cottage cheese

high jumping

jumping jack

advantageous

encouragement

refrigerate

anthropology

criminology

exaggeration

imagination

Final J by Syllables

acknowledge

SEE ALSO:   The Best Free App for Speech Therapy

Initial J Phrases and Sentences

magic genie

dirty germs

tall giraffe

rain jacket

raspberry jam

go to Japan

fruit jelly

fighter jet

morning jog

juggle balls

orange juice

The genie was in the lamp.

Germs are growing on the dishes.

The giant scared me.

The giraffe has a long neck.

She wore a rain jacket in case it rained.

He ate toast with jam.

Japan has a white flag with a red circle.

The jar was empty.

She is pointing to her jaw.

He hung up his jeans.

Do you want some strawberry jelly?

The jet flew in the sky.

They want to jog together.

She is writing in her journal.

She likes to juggle at the beach.

I want juice for breakfast.

It is fun to jump on the trampoline.

Wild animals live in the jungle.

Medial J Phrases and Sentences

secret agent

angel statue

scary badger

twangy banjo

colorful blue jay

faraway Egypt

eject movies

Olympic high jump

five judges

comfy lodging

wooden object

white pages

sitting pigeon

construction project

total reject

combat soldier

The secret agent protected the president.

The statue of the angel was white.

The badger looks like a skunk.

He is a great banjo player.

The blue jay was on a log.

The dogs sleep in cages.

There are Pyramids in Egypt.

Eject the movie when you are finished.

He is in the high jump event.

The judges gave her a medium score.

He found some nice lodging.

He likes to perform magic.

She is holding a wooden object.

He flipped through the pages.

The pigeon was on the ledge.

The project will be finished in July.

Can I reject my dinner?

The soldier wore all of his gear.

Final J Phrases and Sentences

long bridge

green cabbage

college courses

chocolate fudge

old garbage

court judge

packed luggage

marriage ceremony

secret message

small package

quenching beverage

used postage

mountain ridge

pork sausage

theater stage

warehouse storage

lakeside village

The bridge connects the two cities.

Most children think cabbage tastes gross.

The dog sat in his cage.

I'm going to college after high school.

I like my fudge with nuts.

Take the garbage out today.

The judge is holding her gavel.

It took her hours to pack her luggage.

Their families were happy about their marriage.

There was a message in the bottle.

Where did this package come from?

The beverage was refreshing on the hot day.

The letter didn't have enough postage.

The ridge was very steep.

He ate sausage for breakfast.

They were waiting to play on the stage.

They use a warehouse for their storage.

The village was by the lake.

J Reading Paragraphs

Jerry the juggler.

Jerry the giant liked to juggle and do magic. His favorite thing to juggle was jelly beans. This was hard to do with giant hands, but Jerry liked the challenge.

His favorite trick was to make his jacket disappear, and then re-appear, with a jar full of jam in it.

He had performed his juggling and magic show in strange places. One was at a sausage festival in Egypt. Another was at a college for pigeons.

He really wanted to perform on stage in his local village, but he was too afraid the village people would reject him.

My Favorite Jeans

I have written more than 500 pages in my journal. I write about everything - like the time I flew on a jet to Japan, or did the high jump in the Olympics. I have seen a giraffe in the African jungle. I have been to Egypt and eaten fudge on a magic carpet.

During all of this I wore my favorite jeans. My friends tell me to throw them in the garbage because of the germs they probably have on them. I am going to wash them while I drink some juice. It will get the germs out. My jeans will also be another page I can write about in my journal.

A genie can grant you three wishes. They are magic.

A few days ago I got a package in the mail. My jaw dropped when I opened it and found a genie's lamp inside. I rubbed the lamp and out came the genie.

"That place is like a cage," he said. Then the genie said, "You have three wishes, but judge wisely."

"I wish I could play the banjo," I said. POOF! And it was done.

"I wish I could have sausage and juice every day for breakfast," I said. POOF! And it was done.

"For my last wish I want to fly on a jet like a secret agent." POOF! And it was done.

If a genie gave you three wishes, what would you wish for?

This list of functional words was professionally selected to be the most useful for a child or adult who has difficulty with producing the "J" sound.

We encourage you to use this list when practicing at home.

Doing home practice will help your child make much faster progress toward correct production.

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are only able to see students/clients 30-60 mins (or less) per week.

This is not enough time  for your child to overcome an articulation disorder with the "J" sound. But with high caseloads...

...it's all SLPs can do.

There's  only so much time  in the day.

Every day that your child goes without practice  it becomes more and more difficult  to correct an "J" error because he/she continues to say it incorrectly. 

SEE ALSO:   The Best Books for Speech Therapy Practice

We know life is busy , but if you're reading this you're probably someone who cares about helping their loved one as much as you can.

Practice 5-10 minutes whenever you can, but try to do it on a consistent basis (daily).

Please, please, please use this list to practice.

It will be a great benefit to you and your loved one's progress.

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135+ Initial J Words Speech Therapy (Articulation Word List)

Are you a speech therapist or parent looking for initial J words for speech therapy to practice with your child or student? Then this blog is just what you need! It has over 135 initial J words that will help strengthen your child or student’s /j/ sound. 

Effectiveness of a Using Licensed SLP

The help of a licensed speech-language pathologist is a vital service that helps individuals improve their communication skills. 

We know that one of the key aspects of speech therapy is targeting specific sounds, such as the “J” sound, to enhance clarity and articulation. 

Using Articulation Lists

I’ve created an initial J word list for you to focus on, so that speech therapists and caregivers alike can help with common phonological processes, articulation difficulties and overall speech development.

For children who struggle with pronouncing the “J” sound properly, working with a speech therapist can be a transformative experience. 

Using Different Tools and Techniques

We can use a variety of tools and techniques, including games, digital downloads, and high frequency word exercises to engage our clients, many of which are included in this post! 

It’s essential that our speech therapy sessions are tailored to the age and needs of the child, incorporating independent work and the use of minimal pairs when necessary to improve pronunciation and understanding. 

Key Takeaways

• Speech therapists utilize initial J word lists to target phonological processes and articulation.
• Various tools and techniques are employed to engage clients in speech therapy sessions.
• Adapting speech therapy for different age groups and incorporating independent work are crucial for effective treatment.

Initial J Words in Speech Therapy

As a speech therapist, when we focus on initial J words, we can help individuals improve their pronunciation of the /j/ sound. 

We can help our students with this target sound by using initial J word lists and activities to practice and reinforce the proper articulation of this sound.

How to Produce the J Sound

• CH Sound – The J sound is made with the exact same mouth position as the /ch/ sound, except for the fact that the j sound is voiced.
• Tongue Tip – The tip of the tongue should touch the top of your mouth right behind your upper teeth.
• Tongue – The J sound is produced when the middle of our tongue touches the roof of our mouth. 
• Lips – Now put your teeth together and pull the corners of your lips into the middle to make a pucker shape.
• Voiced – This sound is a voiced sound and is made with vibration of the vocal cords as the movement of air comes through the mouth.
• Tactile Cue – You can tell your students that their voice is turned on by instructing them to touch their voice box on their neck and feeling it vibrate as they produce the correct /j/ sound.
• Fun Tip – One effective way to ensure the correct tongue placement is by having the individual say the words “would” and “you” together quickly. This leads to the tongue being in the proper position to produce the /j/ sound.

Using Age-Appropriate Words and Activities

As an SLP, we know that choosing age-appropriate words and activities for our caseload makes all the difference. 

Below in our blog, we have a word list with engaging words such as:

• juice, joy, jump

Try to incorporate these target words into the suggested fun games, stories and exercises to make your sessions engaging and enjoyable!

Different Positions of the Target Sound

We may also practice the J sound in different word positions, such as a medial and final position. 

However, our primary focus for this blog remains on any initial word that begins with /j/ to ensure the individual develops a strong foundation in articulating the J sound.

Approach of Speech Therapist in Articulation Therapy

When we first begin working with a student, we should begin by assessing their current speech abilities and identify any areas that may require improvement. 

Then, we can create a customized treatment plan that targets their specific needs. As a speech therapist, it is common to work with students who struggle to produce individual sounds, especially the initial /j/ sound. When working on this goal, we should be using a combination of techniques, exercises and activities so that the student can practice correct production in a fun and engaging way.

Below we have provided a word list of over 135 initial J words for your students or child to practice. It is important that they not only hear these sounds, but also practice producing them. As we practice these sounds in our sessions, we should also have a focus on addressing phonological processes and articulation therapy. 

• Phonological processes – patterns of sound errors that typically developing children use to simplify speech as they learn to talk. An example is final consonant deletion. 
• Articulation Therapy – targets the physical production of speech sounds.

As we address these, we will be fine tuning the coordination of lips, tongue, teeth, palate and jaw to make sure that words and sounds are pronounced correctly. Focusing on these aspects will help the students achieve clear and effective communication. For each student, we may use specific techniques tailored to their individual needs. 

When working on articulation therapy, we should be working on exercises and activities that focus on producing the accurate target sound. These activities may include practicing tongue and lip placement, repeating target words, and engaging in interactive games that encourage correct sound production. 

Speech therapy sessions can be engaging and fun. Some helpful tips I have are to use a variety of resource types such as flash cards or visual cues, keep data sheets, and to make sure your students needs are always met by being calm and attentive. Below we will go over some great resources to use when practicing the j sound. 

Initial J Words Speech Therapy

As speech therapists, we know that using a variety of tools and strategies is a great way to help our clients improve their speech skills. 

Below, we have compiled some essential tools that will help make your speech therapy sessions fun and engaging.

• Word Lists – one of the best ways to practice the J sound in articulation therapy is to use a list of words and pictures. Our free resource has 20 initial words with the j sound with pictures, at word, phrase and sentence level.
• Flash Cards – use the flashcards below as a visual aid to improve engagement when practicing speech sounds. These are a great visual cue to practice the target sound at word, phrase, sentence and conversational level with a WH question prompt.
• Dice decks – are a fun and interactive way to practice initial J words. Cut the pictures in our free resource into small cards with a target word and a picture on each card. Have your students draw cards, roll a die, and then practice their J sound based on the word drawn. Whenever I incorporating this game-like element in therapy sessions, my students were motivated and the learning process was enjoyable! 
• Mini objects   – use small toys as tangible tools to practice J words. For example, a toy jar, a small giraffe or a doll jacket can provide a hands on experience that keeps students and children engaged as they practice the target word. 
• Dot marker – using a dot marker can also be a fun way to practice having your child put a dot under each Initial J sound. 

In addition, I’ve compiled an easy-to-download one page overview of Initial J sounds below. Simply scroll down to the bottom of this post and download your free copy.

• 1 Syllable:  Jack, Jo, joy, June, Josh, Jan, James, judge, John, jet, jar, jade, jazz, Jew, gem, jay, Jon, jeep, juice, Jane, Jones, Jude, jump, jab, jaw, joint, jeans, Jill, joke, Joel, joyous, Jean, jag, just, jock, jive, jail, jog, Jared, jinx, juke, jug, join, jokes, junk, germs,
• 2 Syllable:  journey, Jordan, joyful, justice, Jason, jelly, Jacob, Joshua, July, Jackson, jungle, Jenny, Joseph, jealous, jingle, jersey, java, jolly, Johnny, Johnson, Jimmy, jacket, Japan, jaguar, journal, Jerry, joker, jello, Juno, jewel, juicy, Judith, jester, jabbing, junction, jumper, jiggle, juggling, jury, jewels, Jewish, jumping, judgement, Jonas, jiffy, jogging, jumbo, Judah, jawbone, jigsaw, giant, journal, jungle, gender, genius, genie, gerbil, ginger, giant, gentle, giraffe
• 3 Syllable:  Jessica, Jupiter, Julian, jasmine, Jonathan, Jennifer, junior, Jefferson, Jeremy, Jamaica, jellyfish, jukebox, janitor, juvenile, juniper, jamberry, jambalaya, jewelry, Joseline, Jamestown, jabbering, Japanese, Germany, genuine, generous, general, gingerbread, gymnastics, gigantic
• 4 Syllable:  January, gymnasium, geometry, geology, geography, generalize, generation

Practice in Flash Card Mode Right Here From Your Computer!

SEE ALSO: 21 Best Reinforcement Games for Speech Therapy

Short sentences or phrases.

When working on Initial J sound production, it’s important to work on short phrases once your child or student has mastered the sound at the word level at or near 80% or higher accuracy.

Here is a list of Initial J word phrases to try:

Initial J Words Speech Therapy in Phrases

Sentence Level: Initial J Words Speech Therapy

The next step after working at the word and phrase levels is to work on the Initial J sound at the sentence level.

For example, you could give your child or student a list of sentences to read aloud while they work on their Initial J sound. 

Another idea would be to give your child or student pictures with their Initial J sound in them and then have them create a sentence about those pictures.

Below is a list of sentences to use with your child or students.

Initial J Words Speech Therapy in Sentences

Initial J Words Speech Therapy Ideas

Boom cards are a popular resource for speech-language pathologists to use in articulation therapy. They are a fun and engaging way to strengthen your child or student’s articulation skills.

Here are a few favorite boom cards to work on the Initial J sounds: 

• I Spy My Speech Sound: J (Initial) | Boom Cards™ | Articulation by Shelby SLP is an interactive boom card set that prompts students to use a flash light and find the hidden object! This product targets initial J sounds and is from one of the top tpt sellers!
• Distance Learning Articulation Cards: “J” Boom Cards™ by Frugally Speaking SLP is a fun set of boom cards that target the ‘j’ sound! This is a great no prep activity. 
• CH & J Articulation Boom Cards™ – Chinese New Year by Michelle’s Communication Center is a fun set of boom cards that celebrate the Chinese New Year! This activity is a highly rated quick speech activity.

SEE ALSO: Free Articulation Games for Speech Therapy

Printable Sound Path Games

Incorporating games as a part of our therapy tools not only maintains their interest but also allows them to practice targeted sounds in a more relaxed and enjoyable environment. One effective approach we utilize in teaching initial J words is incorporating printable sound path games, complete with game pieces and a printable spinner.

• Free Beginning Letter Path KLJVYZ by Toad-ally Exceptional Learners is a highly rates game that targets initial j sounds through a fun game! This game has a clear instruction page and is great for special education and as an early intervention strategy as well!

Older Students

Often we have students in 1st grade all the way to middle school and high school on our caseload. Here are some initial J resources for our older students!

• HARRY POTTER ARTICULATION GAME FOR SPEECH THERAPY by Achieve Beyond is a great Harry Potter themed articulation game that is a comprehensive k-12 set, but especially great for older students. This targets multiple initial sounds, including /j/.
• Articulation J FREE ALL Positions! Dominos A Speech Therapy Game by Sparkllyspeechie is an interactive domino game that targets initial j. This is great for multiple years of age, but perfect for 4th-8th grade. Play this game in a variety of ways!
• Speech Articulation ~ J Compare/Contrast Cards ~ Freebie by SpeechRocks is an engaging activity that compares and contrasts /j/ sounds. 
• FREE Articulation Tic-Tac-Toe for Speech Therapy – J Sound by Kiwi Speech is a great print and go activity for older students to practice initial j sounds as they play tic tac toe! Use this one on one or as a group work.

Independent Word

Are you a speech therapist looking for Initial J word resources for your students to work on independently?

Here are a couple of fun worksheets and games that you can use in your therapy room to work on the Initial J sound.

• “J” Sound Puzzles for FUN Articulation Speech Therapy by Scanlon  Speech Therapy is a fun set of puzzles with target j words for students to put together independently.
• Initial Sound/Letter sheets J by The Note is a fun print and go worksheet with initial J words for students to color!
• Initial Letter Sound review worksheet by Wynter LaTorre is a fun worksheet that prompts students to circle that correct initial sound that the word starts with. These worksheets target initial S, K, T & J!

SEE ALSO: 279+ Free Speech Therapy Digital Materials

In conclusion: initial j words speech therapy.

We hope you have found this article helpful for working on your child or student’s Initial J sound. 

Be sure to grab your freebie of 20 words to start practicing 5 minutes a day!

Grab Your Free Initial J Word List with Pictures Here!

Simply enter your name and email to have this free Initial J Words list with picture cards emailed directly to your inbox! 

Grab our Initial J Words List!

Frequently asked questions, what techniques are effective for teaching j sounds.

In speech therapy, several techniques effectively teach J sounds. One common approach is the use of minimal pairs, which are similar words that differ by only one sound. Minimal pairs help children recognize the differences and learn how to articulate the J sound more accurately. Additionally, we can use tactile cues, such as demonstrating tongue placement for the sound and encouraging the child to imitate. Voice and voiceless pair practice is another effective method, as it allows the child to understand the difference between voiced and unvoiced sounds.

Which beginner J words are appropriate for children in speech therapy?

Selecting age-appropriate initial J words is crucial in engaging and supporting children in speech therapy. Some examples of beginner J words include juice, jelly, jump, jar, jello, and jacket. It’s essential to choose words that are familiar and relevant to the child’s experiences, making it easier for them to associate the sound with the word.

How can I help my child practice initial J sounds at home?

Consistent practice and reinforcement at home are fundamental for mastering any speech sound. To engage your child, incorporate initial J sound practice into daily routines or playtime activities. For example, you can have your child say “jump” every time they leap during a game or repeat “jelly” while making a sandwich. Encourage your child to practice the J sound by reading books or playing games that feature words with that sound.

Are there any tools or games to support J sound development?

Many tools and games available can support your child’s speech development, targeting the J sound. Some examples include art and craft projects, board games, and interactive online games. It’s essential to keep practice sessions enjoyable and engaging, as children are more likely to retain and apply information when having fun.

What is the typical age for mastering the J sound?

Children typically master the J sound between ages 4 to 6, but individual development varies. It’s essential to monitor your child’s progress and adjust expectations based on their age and unique needs. If you have concerns about your child’s speech development, consult a speech-language pathologist for professional guidance.

How can I track progress in J sound speech therapy?

Tracking progress in speech therapy is crucial to ensure the child is steadily improving. The first step is to establish clear goals and objectives alongside your speech-language pathologist. Regularly scheduled progress checks can help measure improvement and identify areas that might need additional support or adjustments. Additionally, maintaining notes or a journal of your child’s progress during home practice sessions can provide valuable insights into their development and help guide therapy sessions.

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J Word List

Speech therapy materials.

If your child is having trouble saying the sound J, my J Word List page can help!

If you are a speech therapist and you need some J speech therapy materials, you have come to the right place!

Below you will find lots of free materials!

• First, there is a FREE worksheet (for non-members) and link (for members) to access new articulation materials.
• Second, there is a word list for  quick viewing .
• Next, you can sign up for a FREE newsletter and receive  A LL THE WORD LISTS in one Folder in your Google Drive.
• After that, check out a brief explanation on how to say the target sound.
• Last, there are ideas for  articulation practice  that do not require flashcards or word lists. This is the most functional option and appropriate for children working on generalization.

Enjoy the FREE materials!!!

J Worksheets and More!

We have articulation worksheets for teaching, drill practice, generalization, and language-based artic games! 

• If you are a member, log in, download, and you are ready to roll here.
• If you want to join, sign up here. 

To access the free smashmat, just fill out the form below!

21 free smashmats.

Sign up below to receive your free materials.

Google Drive Word List

Sign up with your email address to receive all the word lists instantly! They will be yours now and forever!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Google Drive. I can access my word lists from any device; laptop, desktop, or phone. 

If you want a copy, fill out the form above. I put all the word lists in one folder.  Once you receive your email with the materials, make a copy of the files and they are yours to use and tweak as needed.

• If you need help saving the word lists to your Google Drive, click here:  Save Google Document
• If you LOVE Google Drive as much as I do, check out our  Speech Therapy Documentation Page. 

How To Say J

We say "J" by putting the middle of our tongue on the top of our mouth.

• You can have your child say the words "would" and "you" together quickly for practice

Complete J  Articulation Packet

This is MY FAVORITE NEW RESOURCE! I HONESTLY use it all the time for each articulation session and handouts for home practice.

The words chosen for speech therapy can make all the difference between a good therapy program and a great one! For the generalization phase, it is crucial to use high-frequency words!! It only makes sense to use words that the client will actually say outside of the therapy room. Right?!

For only $5, you will receive  35 pages  of materials including:

• Flashcards that can be used as Cariboo Cards too, yeah!
• Flashcard free games that can be used as home practice
• Dot sheets, smash-mats, and/or coloring pages
• Articulation warm-up sheets which can be used as a goal review sheet
• Flashcards which contain word, phrase, and sentence level practice
• Cut/paste sentence level worksheets
• Self-assessment sheets
• Parent handouts

Check it out here

Articulation Games for J

J is a later developing sound, usually mastered by age 5-6.

Take turns with your child saying the desired words. It is important to practice  hearing  and  saying  the words.

• Jacket - Describe a jacket by saying say “my jacket has...”
• Juggle - Have fun juggling or trying to! Say “juggle” before each turn
• Jump - Have a jumping contest. Say “jump” before each turn
• Object - Play a guessing game. Have your child describe an object and you guess it. Your child starts each sentence with “my object has...”
• Pages - While reading at night, say “page” as you turn each page 
• Vegetable - Talk about veggies. Say “my favorite or least favorite vegetable is...”
• Fudge - Make fudge and say “fudge” as your work, yummy!
• Bridge - Build a bridge out of legos and talk about it
• Fridge - Guess what is in the fridge...."I think....is in the fridge!"
• Garbage - Throw paper in the garbage and say “garbage” before each turn

Membership Site

If you are a parent and your child

• has trouble saying multiple sounds 
• needs to work on vocabulary development
• is working on grammar skills
• needs to practice following directions
• is working on narrative language
• needs to work on social skills

AND you want

• a step-by-step guide on how to help your child 
• ideas on how to improve all language skills at home
• functional games

Then, our  member's site might be just what you need. 

If you are a professional and you want: 

• Articulation Screening Tools
• Data tracking sheets
• Templates in Google Drive for easy data tracking and graphing
• Homework sheets/parent handouts on articulation therapy
• General flashcard games
• 36 flashcards for each sound: B, D, F, G, J, K, L, M, N, P, R, S, T, V, Z, SH, TH, CH
• 8-10 functional games for each sound
• Language-based worksheets to spice things up!
• Picture description tasks
• Short story stimuli

Our  membership might be just what you need.

• Word Lists For Speech Therapy
• J Word List For Speech Therapy

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Speech Therapy For The J Sound

The j sound   giraffe, banjo, page, age of development:   50% of kids have j / j mastered by age:, 90% of kids have j / j mastered by age:.

The “B” is made when we bring our lips together to stop the airflow from leaving the mouth.  Before we open our lips to let the airflow out, we need to make sure to turn on the motor (vibrating our vocal folds).  The vibration of the vocal folds is mostly responsible us to produce a sound similar but noticeably different than “P”.

The “P” sound is called the cognate pair of “B”.  In short, this means that they are produced in a similar fashion, but differ by one of the sounds requiring the vocal folds to vibrate during production and one sound to have not have the vocal folds vibrating.

By placing the back of your tongue on the top of your mouth, the air produce from the lungs is stopped.  Once the tongue is lowered, the air forcefully shoots of the mouth to produce that crisp “k” or “c” sound.

90% of kids have J. /j mastered by age:

A fun and tasty way to teach this sounds is to press down the tip the tongue with a lollipop or sucker so that the back of the tongue elevates.  A video of this activity can be seen here:

ENTER SUCKER VIDEO

A common error that kid’s have when trying to produce the “c” or “k” sound is a  phonological process ( fancy word for a pattern of errors) called fronting.

Fronting is when sounds that are produced in the back of the mouth(“c”, “k”, “g”) are replaced with sounds that are produced in the front of the mouth(“t”, “d”)

Examples of fronting: A child says “otay” for “okay”, “tat” for “cat”, “pumptin” for “pumpkin”

J Articulation Videos

Some of our favorite J articulation videos from the best Speech-Pathologists on Youtube

Free Downloadable J Articulation Materials

Initial j flashcard.

Medial J Flashcards

Final J Flashcards

J Carrier Phrases

J Word Find

J Tic-Tac-Toe

J Coloring Sheet

J Initial, Medial, Final Cheat Sheet

J Speech Therapy Activities

Click to hear "j" sounds.

Click all the "J" and "j" bubbles you see!

Drag and drop both pictures into the witches' pot to create a word, witches brew word creation only available on tablet / mobile devices, click the arrow to see what word you made.

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Syllable Flashcards (Consonant + Vowel)

Initial j flashcards, mixed j flashcards, name the photos, typically works best google chrome's browser.

Initial J Minimal Pairs

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Final j minimal pairs.

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Initial J/j Story

Conversation

Conversation Starter Questions

J Speech Therapy Games

J sound matching game, j sound find the treasure game, j sound crossword, j words word search level 1, j words word search level 2, online members.

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Tips and Tricks: /J/ Sound

How to Teach the J Sound

Today I am here to offer some tips and tricks for teaching that tricky /J/ sound.  This is something you can work on with your child at home (and in therapy with a qualified speech provider).  There are different errors that kids make for the /J/ sound.  One is called “deaffrication”, when they use “dz” instead of “J” (ex. “dzuice” instead of “juice”). This is something you can work on with your child at home (and in therapy with a qualified speech provider).

There are several levels of teaching sounds: isolation (only the sound), at the word level (ex.”jeep”), in phrases (ex. “blue jeans”), sentences (“I see blue jeans.”), and finally in conversation.  

This may take some time.  This is normal.  Try to be patient and don’t put too much pressure on your kiddo.  

Isolation Level : 

One way to practice this is “jjjjjj”.  Some kids can do the /J/ sound right away when you do this…some cannot. If they can’t quite do it yet, don’t worry.  Keep practicing. 

Before /J/ works, you might have to try /D/ and /SH/…then squish them together.  You can practice each of these alone….then together….making them closer and closer together until you get to /J/.  

Tips and tricks:

1) First…get those lips out into a pucker.

2) show them and tell them how to put their tongue on the roof of their mouth (“put your tongue near the bumpy spot”).  If they have a hard time, keep practicing, use a mirror, and be patient. 

3) Next…show them how to make the air come out.  I tell my students to make it “pop”…that way the air comes out quickly.  

Just before the word level comes syllables.  This is where you add in a vowel.  Examples: jo, jee, jaa, aj, ij, eej.  

Word Level : 

Once we’ve got isolation and syllables down, we can move to practicing in words. Some kids do better starting at the beginning of the word, some do better with the middle or end of the word.  You can determine this by trying some words.  I often start with kids where they  are  successful (this may sound backwards…but saying sounds wrong can get frustrating, so kids are excited when they get them right).  In speech therapy, we call this “stimulability” (if a child is “stimulable” for a sound….they are saying it right! yay!).  

Beginning Words  (initial position)

• Initial J : jelly, jersey, Jacob, J, jello, jelly beans, juice, jacket, jungle, giant, jeans, jeep, jewelry, jig, jump, Jupiter, jail, jar, jaguar, jump rope

Middle Words  (medial position)

• Medial J : blue jeans, emergency, badger, refrigerator, vegetable, angel, pajamas, oranges, gingerbread, jungle gym, magic, magician, pages, DJ, graduate, engineer, fire engine, detergent, banjo, pigeon

Ending Words  (final position)

• Final J : badge, fudge, sludge, carriage, bridge, sponge, stage, fridge, cabbage, orange, luggage, package, bandage, gar-age, cage, change, wedge, marriage, age, page, strange, courage

Once you figure out which of these positions is easiest, practice those words.  You can model the sounds for your child, emphasizing the part with /J/ in them…cheering for them if they get it right, but not scolding them if they get it wrong. 

Once your child has mastered the word level (consistently getting 15-20 words correct at least 75% of the time), you can try some phrases/sentences.  

I like to use this visual set to cue which part of the word we are targeting.  

Phrase/Sentence Level : 

We can sometimes use the same sentence to practice lots of words: 

Example: I see a _____. (jar, jaguar, jump rope)

Or you can make up sentences for each word.  

Again, make your /J/ sounds louder (we call this exaggerated modeling…fu dge ), encourage your child, but don’t scold.  Also, don’t do this practice all day every day….just a few minutes here and there is fine.  We don’t want kids to become sensitive about their speech.   

Conversation Level : 

This can be used from the start in modeling of your own /J/ sounds in your conversation (for a few minutes here and there).  Once a child has consistently mastered sentences (75% or more correct), you can start providing gentle reminders in conversation.  “Don’t forget your /J/ sound”, “oops, I think you meant “juice”…right?”  Don’t stress your child out….but remind them gently (some of the time).  

Stories: 

One of the best ways to model the /J/ sound is by reading stories.  You can read stories to your child that have a lot of /J/ sounds in them and exaggerate that sound for them while you read.  Here are some examples of books that have /J/ in them frequently.  If your child is old enough to read, you can practice with them reading too!

Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw

Hop Jump  by Ellen Stoll Walsh Five Little Monkeys  by Eileen Christellow I Just Forgot  by Mercer Mayer

For Articulation Cards that you can play Memory and other games with, check out  Teachers Pay Teachers .  

Free Articulation Printables are in the Freebie Library .  Join the Ausome Speech Club below to get the password. 

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Free J Sound Articulation Words Flashcards

Free J sound articulation words flashcards for autism and speech therapy. Initial, medial and final word lists download printable PDF worksheets. J sound articulation flashcards can be a valuable tool in assisting speech delayed & autistic children in learning  the “j” sound. The “j” sound, known as a voiced palatal approximant or a voiced palatal glide, is produced by raising the middle part of the tongue towards the hard palate, creating a smooth, gliding sound.  These picture flashcards provide visual cues that help children produce the “j” sound.

Initial J Words

Download Printable PDF

Medial J Words

Final J Words 

Interactive j words audio flashcards.

How to Teach the J Sound by Chicago Speech Therapy

The /j/ sound is made with the exact same mouth positioning as the /ch/ sound, but the /j/ sound is voiced. This means that the sound is produced comes from both the vibration of the vocal cords and from the movement of air through the mouth. To make the sound, put your teeth together and pull the corners of your lips to the middle to form a pucker. The tip of your tongue should rise to touch the top of your mouth just behind your front teeth as air passes through your mouth. The air will temporarily be blocked by your tongue on its way out before being released from your lips.

Children usually develop the /j/ sound a bit later, starting at age four. Since this sound is a little more challenging, it is still considered within the normal range for children to work on developing the sound through age seven. However, if your child is still struggling with the /j/ sound after seven years old, it is best to seek out the help of a licensed speech-language pathologist. The sooner a speech problem is treated, the less likely that it will become a larger and much more severe issue later.

Practicing articulation with your child is a great way to help stimulate their language development at home or in conjunction with a speech therapist. Here are some fun tips to help you get started with your little one:

• Verbal cues

When practicing individual sounds with your child, it is important to begin by saying the sound slowly and clearly for your child: “/j/, /j/, /j/” This helps your little one to understand what sound you are focusing on and gives them a good example to imitate. Have your child repeat the sound back to you. Gradually, as she begins to master the sound in isolation, add vowels to the sound to form simple syllables, such as “jo, jo, jo,” “jay, jay, jay,” and “jee, jee, jee.” With practice and time, your child will be able to move on to words, sentences, and even conversations with the /j/ sound.

• Visual cues

Often when a visual cue accompanies a sound, it helps children remember what their mouth is supposed do in order to make the sound. For the /j/ sound, place your thumb in one corner of your mouth and your other fingers at the other corner and draw them together around your mouth as you say the sound, so that your hand pinches together in the same way the lips do. Have your child do this as well when they make the sound. Encourage your child to practice this in the mirror for additional visual feedback.

• Tactile cues

Since the /j/ sound is a voiced sound, the vocal cords vibrate when the sound is pronounced. You can feel this vibration by putting your hand on your neck when you say the sound. Have your little one feel your throat, and then her own. Kids get a kick out of feeling this and it helps remind them that they are saying the sound correctly.

• Awesome /j/ Activity

J is for Jumping! Place a few washcloths or placemats on the floor of your kitchen or living room so they look like lily pads on a pond. Tell your kiddo that the goal is to jump all the way to the end, but she has to “jump!” three times correctly before actually jumping to the next lily pad. Your little froggy will master the sound soon enough!

Are you concerned about your child’s progress in speech and language development?

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/j/ book list for articulation therapy.

• Book Lists , Literacy-Based Speech Therapy

I created a picture book list inventory of my favorite /J/ sound books for articulation therapy. It’s a free download so you can put more energy into your speech therapy sessions rather than in researching books. Using a literacy-based approach to articulation therapy is supported by evidence but it can be very time-consuming – hopefully, this free download will save your productivity when selecting books to use in your speech therapy activities.

THE BEST /J/ BOOKS FOR ARTICULATION

The books I selected either have a high frequency of the /J/ sound or a word containing the sound is repeated throughout. I organized my list of /J/ books by initial, medial, and final. There is a column on the right of the inventory list for you to add your own notes if needed. I like to note where I can locate the book to save my productivity. For instance, I will label them as “mine,” or “library” if it’s a book I borrowed, etc.

You can print the complete list of /J/ sound books for articulation therapy at the bottom of this post . You can also see all of the recommended  /J/ sound books on Amazon (affiliate link).

Make sure to check out my other  free book lists .

Initial /J/ sound books for articulation:

Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae​ The Spiffiest Giant In Town by Julia Donaldson The House That Jack Built by Little Golden Books SkippyJon Jones by Judy ​Schachner (series) Bark, George by Jules Feiffer Jump Frog, Jump! by Robert Kalan Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwal (series) Jack and Jill and Big Dog Bill by Martha Weston Curious George by H. A. Ray (series) Sheep in a Jeep by Nancy Shaw (series) The Giant Jelly Bean Jar by Marcie Abof Giraffes by Laura Marsh Jabari Tries by Gaia Cornwall Geraldine, the Music Mouse by Leo Lionni

Medial /J/ sound books for articulation:

The Proudest Blue by I. Muhammad & S. K. Ali SkippyJon Jones by Judy ​Schachner (series) Pajama Time! by Sandra Boynton​ Flashing Fire Engines by Tony Mitton Don’t Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus by Mo Willams

Final /J/ sound books for articulation:

Curious George by H. A. ​Ray (series) Bark, George by Jules Feiffer The Little Blue Cottage by Kelly Jordan

Nonfiction topics for /J/ sound articulation:

The National Geographic books are a fantastic source for nonfiction texts. Here are a few topics you can see if there are books for: – jaguar – fire engines, Egypt – bridges (Golden Gate Bridge, London Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge, etc)

I hope this list of /J/ books for articulation therapy helps you in therapy! DOWNLOAD BELOW!

Make sure to follow my Instagram account:  @literacybasedspeech where I regularly share books and how you can use them in your sessions.

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Word Lists for J Sound

• November 30, 2023
• Activity Type , Articulation , J Sound , Materials , Speech , Word Lists

No more trying to come up with words off the top of your head! Word lists make it SO much easier for you when having students practice targeted sounds and are great for auditory bombardment. With this file, you’ll have 150 words that include “j” at your fingertips!

Included are:

• Initial “j” – 50 words
• Medial “j” – 50 words
• Final “j” – 50 words

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• The "J" Sound

Welcome to 'j' practice! We believe that parents and caregivers are a child's best teacher and there are many things that you can do at home

Welcome to 'j' practice! We believe that parents and caregivers are a child's best teacher and there are many things that you can do at home to improve your child's communication skills.

Developmental norms:.

Most 1 children produce the 'j' sound correctly by 6 years of age in initial, medial, and final position of words.

1  Age at which at least 90% of children produced the sound correctly in all word positions.

(Adapted norms from The Goldman Fristoe Test of Articulation-2)

• Initial position of words (the sound occurs at the beginning of the word): j ump, j uice, j eep
• Medial position of words (the sound occurs in the middle of the word): ma g ic, an g el, pa g es, pa j amas
• Final position of words (the sound occurs at the end of the word): brid g e, oran g e, lar g e

How to make the “j” sound:

• The teeth are together and the lips are slightly rounded (i.e., puckered).
• The sides of the tongue are up and pressed against the inside of the top teeth and the tip of the tongue will be up against the bumpy part of the roof of the mouth just behind the top teeth.
• Once the teeth, lips, and tongue are in position the jaw will drop and the air will explode out to say "j."
• The voice is turned on and the sound is short.

How to provide feedback for "j":

BE SPECIFIC!

When the sound was produced correctly: “That was a great ‘j’ sound!” OR “I really heard your ‘jumping’ sound when you said ‘juice.’ Great job!” When the sound was produced incorrectly: “Oops! You forgot the ‘j’ sound” OR “That sound like you said ‘dump’ instead of ‘jump.’ Remember to use your ‘j’ sound." You can give the sound a fun name. For example, the 'j' sound could be called the "jumping sound". Feel free to get creative and find a name for the sound that works best for your child!

How often should I be practicing with my child?

A useful analogy is to compare working on speech sounds to playing a video game. In many video games, there are different levels that need to be completed or mastered in a sequence. The length of time a child stays on one level varies greatly from child to child, and can be impacted by a number of factors. These factors include:

• The amount of cueing needed to elicit the sound correctly - we call this stimulability . If a child can produce a sound given proper cueing techniques, they are said to be stimulable to produce that sound. Gradually, over time, we can fade the cues so that the child can make the sound by themselves.
• Attention span: A child who is able to focus on practicing his or her speech sound, pay attention to the cues given, and pay attention to their own production is likely to make progress more quickly than a child who might struggle with attention and focus.

If you feel that your child is not making progress as expected, please contact your school speech-language pathologist for more guidance in this area.

How to Master a Level?

For most 'levels', your child will be ready to move on once he or she is able to produce the sound at that level with 80% accuracy. You don't need to keep track of how your child is doing on each task unless you want to. You can simply estimate approximately how well your child is doing. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your school's speech-language pathologist.

Reps: 1 – 2 Activities/Practice sessions per day

Duration: 5 – 15 minutes

• Level One: Isolation (e.g., the sound all by itself→ “ j ”)
• Level Two: Syllable  (e.g.,  “ j o”)
• Level Three: Word (e.g., “ j am”)
• Level Four: Phrase (e.g., “warm j acket”)
• Level Five: Sentence (e.g., “My mom wears j ewelry.”)
• Level Six: Conversation (e.g., the sound in everyday conversation)

Why Practice? It’s Like Exercise!

Think of practicing speech sounds as similar to exercising or lifting weights. If you start off by learning correct form, exercising every day, and gradually increasing the difficulty or weight, you will be able to make great progress towards your fitness goal! The same goes for working on speech sounds. We start by showing a child how to properly produce the sound. Then, we work with the child on saying the sound on its own ( isolation ), then in syllables (la, lee, lie, low, Lou). After that, we target the sound at the word level- beginning, end, middle, and in consonant blends. Gradually, we move to producing the sound at the sentence level, and then at the conversational level.

Short But Often!

Researchers have found that shorter but more frequent practice sessions are more effective than longer but less frequent sessions. For this reason, I recommend that you try to sneak in as many short sessions as you can throughout your week. The more you practice, the faster your child will progress. A few 5-minute sessions a day is a great place to start, but you can always do fewer if it doesn't fit into your schedule. Try practicing while driving in the car, while standing in line, or while waiting for a doctor's appointment to get in a few extra repetitions.

Phonological Processes for "j":

A phonological process is a typical error pattern that young children use to simplify an adult speech sound they are not able to say.  In the case of the /j/ sound, one error that children may exhibit is called depalatization.   The word palatal refers to the roof of the mouth, so children who exhibit depalatization are keeping the tip of their tongue down instead of touching it behind their top teeth at the start of the sound.  When they do this they typically substitute /z/ or /dz/ for /j/, so "jar" is "zar" or "dzar", "jam" is "zam" or "dzam", "fudge" is "fuzz" or "fudz", etc.

A second phonological process that can occur with the /j/ sound is something called stopping.   In this error pattern, the child omits the continuous airflow part of the sound and only makes a sound that is stopped in the mouth, like a /d/ sound.  When they do they this they say "dar" for "jar", "dam" instead of "jam" and "fud" instead of "fudge"

Most babies and very young children demonstrate depalatization as a normal developmental process, but stopping is NOT a typical pattern and is a red flag for an articulation disorder.  The earlier parents work with their children to modify their stopping, the less likely it is that this error pattern will become habituated and the child will need speech therapy.

Tips for working on stopping at home:

Be Specific :  tell your children that they are stopping their air instead of letting their air flow out of their mouth to make the /j/ sound. Give an Example :  give your children examples of their errors (e.g. "You said dump when you meant to say jump "). Provide a Model :  have your child look closely at your mouth as you model the /j/ sound all by itself, not in a word, and point out how you need to stretch out the sound a little. Use a Tactile Aid :  run your finger down your child's arm when you stretch out the /j/ sound so he recognizes that he has to add continuous airflow to the sound.

Accept a /dz/ Substitution :  if your child makes a /dz/ sound instead of a /j/ sound when you are doing your demonstrations, accept this production as it shows he is understanding the concept of continuous airflow.  It is easy to shape a /dz/ sound into an /j/ sound later in your work with your child.

• Childhood Apraxia of Speech
• The "TH" sound
• The "L" Sound
• The "R" Sound
• The "SH" Sound
• The "CH" Sounds

The "Z" Sound

• General Articulation Resources

The 'K' Sound

• The "G" Sound

The "V" Sound

• The "S" Sound

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